Musings-Murder Mystery Weekends

Remember when the trendy party was to throw a mystery themed dinner with the aid of a boxed murder mystery?  I even put one on that was themed around an Egyptian archological dig.  The box had invitations with the character that invitee would play and costume ideas, dinner recipes, and the scripts for each character during the evening.  It was different and if you invited people who got into their character, as my invitees did, it was a lot of fun.  

The boxed mystery dinner party games are still available, but apparently murder mystery weekends are sweeping from Britain across the US.  The Guardian did an article about the popularity of the themed weekend getaways (click here), but you can find them from East to West coast of America, from dude ranches to wineries as well.  Forbes did an article as well for the US luxury take (click here).  Keith and Margo's Murder Mystery is one brand that helps them all put on mystery events with a rotating list of places on schedule.  Here is their description from their website:

"Imagine…

You are at one of our many luxury Murder Mystery Weekend™ hotels and resorts enjoying a beautifully prepared dinner when suddenly… a shot rings out and the person sitting next to you keels over, dead!

Instantly you realize that same person had asked to exchange business cards at a cocktail reception just minutes before and now, to your relief,  the Police have arrived. Now all eyes are on you as a Homicide Detective is asking you funny questions and you find yourself becoming the leading witness in a murder mystery investigation. And that’s just the beginning.

Complete with clues, twists and turns, an ingenious plot starts to unravel during the course of the Murder Mystery Weekend™ as you then start to track a killer, or killers, all played by incognito actors in the group masquerading as guests.

To your surprise, beginning with the festivities on Friday evening and continuing through Sunday Brunch, you just might find yourself turning from “star witness” to “leading suspect.”

At the end of the Murder Mystery Weekend™, after investigating and collecting all the clues and interviewing your favorite suspects, you have the chance to hand in your solution and prove motive, means and opportunity, not only to clear your own name but to show everyone that all that crime show watching did not go to waste."

The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio even provides the ultimate cozy mystery experience with a Knitting Murder Mystery.  They say "the murder mystery is for both knitters and non-knitters, and there will plenty of fun, swag, knitting time, and a giveaway, just for knitters."  So there is a little something for everyone in these mystery weekends.

If an entire weekend is too much for you, look for a dinner mystery. One summer I acted in a trope that put on a murder mystery for dinners ranging from corporate affairs to local clubs.  There were all sorts of different ideas for the mystery, from a western theme to a roaring 20s.  Napa Valley Wine Train hosts regular murder mystery dinners aboard that sounds like a fun time. 

The classic mystery is always entertaining and these weekends are proof of the popularity of a good mystery and the enduring desire to play detective.  What about you?  Would you like to immerse yourself in a weekend mystery game?